Metal roofing structure



May 7, 1968 w. J. HEIDRICH METAL ROGFING STRUCTURE Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 28, 1965 INVENT'OR William J. Heidrich ATTORNEYS FIG. 5

May 1968 w. J. HEIDRICH 3,381,426

METAL ROOFING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 28, 1965 United States Patent 3,381,426 METAL RGUFENG STRUCTURE William 3. llieidrich, Rome, N.Y., assignor to Revere (Zapper and llrass Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 490,795 1 Claims. (Cl. 52%) This invention relates to metal roofing structures and, more particularly, to a metal roofing structure especially useful for mobile homes.

In my copending application Ser. No. 368,099, filed May 18, 1964-, and now abandoned, there is described a novel metal roofing structure which is particularly useful for mobile homes, coaches and other flat or sloping roofs of fixed buildings. The roofing structure comprises a plurality of flat metal roof sheets having two upstanding opposite side edges and a side connector positioned between adjacent upstanding edges of adjacent sheets. Each side connector comprises a substantially flat base portion having a centrally and longitudinally disposed upstanding Web provided at its top edge with oppositely extending lateral flanges. Each connector is positioned with its base portion secured to a roof-support or decking beneath adjacent portions of adjoining roof sheets and with its web between the adjacent upstanding edges of the sheets. The flanges at the top of each web are folded downwardly over the upstanding sheet edges to hold them adjacent opposite sides of the web.

I have now devised an end connection structure which makes it possible to connect the ends of the aforementioned roof sheets in order to span a wider singleplane roof or to provide a covering for two sloping roof portions which meet at a ridge. Pursuant to the present invention, this end structure includes the provision at one end of each roof sheet of a substantially upstanding end flange struck up therefrom and a top flange extending outwardly from the top edge of the end flange over and substantially parallel to the plane of the end portion of the sheet. The structure further includes an end connector having a sheet-like body portion extending over the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets, the ends of the connector body portion having downwardly and inwardly folded end flanges positioned to underlie the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets.

These and other novel features of the roof structure of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which- FIG. 1 is a perspective partial view of a roofing struc ture embodying the end connection structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective partial view of the end of a roof sheet embodying the structure of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective partially exploded end view of a roof provided with a roof sheet structure embodying the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a metal blank showing an advantageous arrangement of fold and cut lines for providing the end connector structure on the roof sheets pursuant to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, each roof sheet consists essentially of a fiat body portion 111 having two upstanding opposite side edges 11. The dimensions of the flat body portion 1d are those appropriate for the structure to be roofed, and the height of the upstanding side edges 11 is such as to insure a water-impervious seal with the side connectors and is advantageously about one inch. The side connectors, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, comprise a substantially fiat base portion 12 having a centrally disposed upstanding web 13 running longitudinally of the base portion 12. The top edge of the web 13 is provided with deformable oppositely extending lateral flanges 14 and 15. The flanges may project outwardly at any angle from the web which will permit insertion of a roof sheet side edge 11 into position with the sheet portion 161 resting on one base portion 12 of the connector and with the sheet side edge 11 positioned adjacent the side of the upstanding web 13. The length of the connector is substantially the same as the length of the upstanding roof sheet side edges, and the height of the connector web 13 is advantageously slightly greater than the height of the roof sheet side edge 11.

The end connection structure of the invention, as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes the provision of one end of the roof sheet body portion 10 with a substantially upstanding end flange 16 having a height substantially the same as that of the central web 13 of the side connector. In the case of a roofing sheet for use on a ridged roof, the end flange 16 is bent upwardly at an obtuse angle from the roof sheet body portion 10 so that it assumes a substantially vertical position when the sheet is secured to the roof base structure. In the case of a roofing sheet designed for a flat roof, the end flange 16 will stand up at substantially right angles to the roof sheet body portion 1%. The upper end of the upstanding end flange 16 is provided with a top flange 17 which extends outwardly from the top of the end flange 16 over and substantially parallel to the plane of the roof sheet body portion 10. The resulting end structures of adjacent ends of proximate roofing sheets are interconnected by an end connector structure of the invention having a sheetlike body portion 18 extending over the top flange 17. The opposite ends of the connector body portions are provided with downwardly and inwardly folded end flanges 19 positioned to underlie the top flanges 1.7 of adjacent end portions of the proximate roof sheets. That is, the end flanges 19 are reversely folded with respect to the body portion 18 and thus terminate in a plane substantially parallel to that of the body portion 18 but spaced therefrom sufliciently to accommodate insertion of the top flange 17 of the roof sheet.

In using the roofing structure of the invention, the roof sheets are installed as described in my aforementioned application but with the ends of the sheets provided with my novel end closure structure positioned in close opposition. The end connector is then slid along the top of this junction with its sheet-like body portion 18 on the top of the roof sheet top flanges I? and with the connector end flanges 11' underlying the roof sheet top flanges 17. The sheet iike body portion 13 thus completely covers the junction bet-ween the ends of opposing roof sheets, and the connector end flanges 19, cooperating with the roof sheet top flanges 17, provide a connection which resists Water penetration. By bending the roof sheet top flanges 17 downwardly slightly so that their outermost edge is somewhat below the level of the top of the side connector web .13, the resulting springdlke action of the top flanges 17 hold the undersides of the end flanges 19 snugly against the tops of the side connectors to prevent rattling by the wind.

In order to insure further weatherproofing of end connec-tor structure, I have found it advantageous to form the roof sheets from a rectangular metal blank with f ld and cut lines as shown in FIG. 5. One end of the bank is provided with s aced parallel transverse fold lines 20 and 21 which dei no the top flange panel 17 and the upstanding end flange panel to. Two longitudinal fold lines 22, spaced inwardly from the two sides of the blank and terminating at the outboard transverse fold line 211, define the roof sheet side edge 11. The outer transverse fold line 20 is cut inwardly from both sides of the sheet, as indidated at 23, a distance substantially equal to the inboard spacing of the longitudinal fold lines 22. A gusset fold line 24 extends from the intersections of the longitudinal fold lines 212 with the inboard transverse fold line 21 to the outbard ends of the cuts 23, thus defining two gusset panels 25 and 26. The top flange panel 17 is first folded upwardly along the fold line 20 to a position approximately normal to the blank, and then the side edge panels 11 and the end flange panel 16 are folded upwardly while folding the gusset panels and 26 outwardly and then over against the outside of the upstanding edge panel 16 to form what is known in the sheet metal art as bread pan corners as shown in FIG. 3. In this way the upstanding end flange 16 is secured by a water proof gusset fold at each transverse end to its proximate roof sheet side edge 11. The projecting flange-like portion 27 of the top flange 17 can either be cut off or it can be folded downwardly over the side edge connector as indicated in FIG. 3.

If it is desired to close the end of the roof structure with a metal sheet, a closure panel 28, such as that shown in FIG. 4, can be used. The closure panel is provided with edge flanges 29 folded inwardly so as to fit into the space between the end connector body portion 18 and its end flange 19.

It will be seen, according, that the end connect-ion structure of the invention provides a rigid weatherproof junction beween the ends of roofing sheets of the design shown in my aforementioned application so that larger roof areas, and particularly gabled roofs, can be effectively and easily covered with a watertight metal sheath.

I claim:

1. In a metal roofing structure comprising a plurality of flat metal roof sheets having two upstanding opposite side edges, and a side connector having an upstanding web positioned between adjacent upstanding side edges of adjoining sheets, the connector web being provided at its top edges with oppositely extending lateral flanges folded downwardly over the upstanding sheet side edges to hold them adjacent opposite sides of the web, the improvement which comprises an end connection for adjacent ends of the sheets consisting essentially of a substantially upstanding end flange struck up from an end of each sheet to a height substantially the same as that of the upstanding Web of the side connector and a top flange extending outwardly from the top edge .of the end flange over and substantially parallel to the plane of the end portion of the sheet, and an end connector having a sheet-like body portion extending over the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets, the ends of the connector body portion having downwardly and inwardly folded end flanges positioned to underlie the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets.

2. In a metal roofing structure comprising a plurality of flat metal roof sheets having two upstanding opposite side edges, and a side connector having an upstanding web positioned between adjacent upstanding side edges of adjoining sheets, the connector web being provided at its top edges with oppositely extending lateral flanges folded downwardly over the upstanding sheet side edges to hold them adjacent opposite sides of the web, the improtvernent which comprises an end connection for adjacent ends of the sheets consisting essentially of a substantially upstanding end flange struck up from an end of each sheet to a height substantially the same as that of the upstanding web of the side connector and a top flange extending outwardly from the top edge of the end flange over and substantially parallel to the plane of the end portion of the sheet, the adjoining ends of each sheet upstanding side edge and upstanding end flange being integnally connected by a gusset fold, and an end connector having a sheet-like body portion extending over the topflanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets, the ends of the connector :body portion having downwardly and inwardlty folded end flanges positioned to underlie the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets.

3. In a metal roofing structure comprising a plurality of flat metal roof sheets having two upstanding opposite side edges, and a side connector having an upstanding web positioned between adjacent upstanding side edges of adjoining sheets, the connector web being provided at its top edges with oppositely extending lateral flanges folded downwardly over the upstanding sheet side edges to hold them adjacent opposite sides of the web, the improvement which comprises an end connection for adjacent ends of the sheets consisting essentially of a substantially upstanding end flange struck up from an end of each sheet to a height substantially the same as that of the upstanding web of the side connector and a top flange extending outwardly from the top edge of the end flange over and substantially parallel to the plane of the end porti n of the sheet, the adjoining ends of each upstanding side edge and upstanding end flange being integrally connected by a gusset fold, and an end connector having a sheet-like body portion extending over the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets, the ends of the connector body portion having downwardly and inwardly folded end flanges positioned to underlie the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets.

4. In a metal roofing structure comprising a plurality of flat metal roof sheets having two upstanding opposite side edges, and a side connector having an upstanding web positioned between adjacent upstanding side edges of adjoining sheets, the connector web being provided at its top edges with oppositely extending lateral flanges folded downwardly over the upstanding sheet side edges to hold them adjacent opposite sides of the web, the improvement which comprises an end connection for adjacent ends of the sheets consisting essentially of a substantially upstanding end flange srtuck up from an end of each sheet to a height substantially the same as that of the upstanding web of the side connector and a t p flange extending outwardly from the top edge of the end flange over and substantially parallel to the plane of the end portion of the sheet, the inboard end of the top flange lying in a plane below that of the top edge of the side connector, and an end connector having a sheet-like body portion extending over the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets, the ends of the connector body portion having downwardly and inwardly folded end flanges positioned to underlie the top flanges of adjacent end portions of the roof sheets.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 230,161 7/1880 Walker 52-461 1,240,773 9/1917 Perry 52469 1,332,638 3/1920 Sla-tten 52461 X 1,653,847 12/1927 Greenstreet 52--542 X 2,725,832 12/1955 Huntington 52-461 X 3,149,436 9/1964 V-arlonga 52-460 X 1,298,129 3/ 1919 Whittredge 5296 2,690,599 10/1954 Thompson et al. 5296 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 449,223 6/1948 Canada. 682,086 11/1952 Great Britain.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

M. O. WARNECKE, P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN A METAL ROOFING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF FLAT METAL ROOF SHEETS HAVING TWO UPSTANDING OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES, AND A SIDE CONNECTOR HAVING AN UPSTANDING WEB POSITIONED BETWEEN ADJACENT UPSTANDING SIDE EDGES OF ADJOINING SHEETS, THE CONNECTOR WEB BEING PROVIDED AT ITS TOP EDGES WITH OPPOSITELY EXTENDING LATERAL FLANGES FOLDED DOWNWARDLY OVER THE UPSTANDING SHEET SIDE EDGES TO HOLD THEM ADJACENT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WEB, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES AN END CONNECTION FOR ADJACENT ENDS OF THE SHEETS CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SUBSTANTIALLY UPSTANDING END FLANGE STRUCK UP FROM AN END OF EACH SHEET TO A HEIGHT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THAT OF THE UPSTANDING WEB OF THE SIDE CONNECTOR AND A TOP FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE TOP EDGE OF THE END FLANGE OVER AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE END PORTION OF THE SHEET, AND AN END CONNECTOR HAVING A SHEET-LIKE BODY PORTION EXTENDING OVER THE TOP FLANGES OF ADJACENT END PORTIONS OF THE ROOF SHEETS, THE ENDS OF THE CONNECTOR BODY PORTION HAVING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY FOLDED END FLANGES POSITIONED TO UNDERLIE THE TOP FLANGES OF ADJACENT END PORTIONS OF THE ROOF SHEETS. 